But Reynolds' magnetic anti-hero and the climatic football game against prison guards have held up well over the years, and freshman director Barry Skolnick has a go at it. For U.K. audiences, though, the sport is soccer, and the title gets changed to "Mean Machine."

Under executive producer Guy Ritchie, Skolnick casts his movie almost entirely with Ritchie alums from "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Headliner Vinnie Jones steps into Reynolds' former role as Danny "Mean Machine" Meehan, a pro player accused of point shaving who finds himself in prison after drunkenly assaulting police officers. Caught in a prison power struggle when asked to coach the prison's guard team, Danny proposes an exhibition between the guards and the inmates.

Jones glides on sheer charisma, while Jason Statham goes against type as Monk, a psychopathic mass murderer and goalie. Audiences will spend time trying to place other Ritchie players (Jason Flemyng, Robbie Gee, Vas Blackwood, Jake Abraham, and Adam Fogerty) in their previous roles. Casting aside, "Mean Machine" holds its ground as a mid-budget Hollywood knock-off.

Skolnick does a fine job of balancing the drama with the on-field action, using a pop soundtrack to set the mood and carry the action. He switches tones too quickly before letting the previous dramatic mini-arch settle in, but his actors seems to be enjoying themselves.

"Mean Machine," despite its theme of underdog glory, seems uncomfortable with the fact that its heroes are dangerous criminals. An attempt at reconciling the thematic friction comes from Doc ("Waking Ned Devine's" David Kelly), who reminds Danny that even though he's a harmless codger now, he killed an entire family in his youth; but he didn't mean it and is a good guy at heart.

Skolnick would have better served his film if he hadn't juggled comic and dramatic set pieces. Skolnick seems to know this when Monk's violent fantasies are played for laughs in a dream sequence during the game. Statham's performance tells us that knows he's an inmate caricature in a prison movie. So does the audience.

`Mean Machine'

(star)(star)1/2

Directed by Barry Skolnick; screenplay by Charlie Fletcher and Chris Baker & Andrew Day; based on the film "The Longest Yard"; produced by Matthew Vaughn; photographed by Alex Barber; edited by Eddie Hamilton and Dayn Williams; production design by Russell De Rozario. A Paramount Classics release; opens Friday at Webster Place, and CineArts 6 in Evanston. Running time: 1:39. MPAA rating: R (language and some violence).